Looking for fun events? Top 5 things to do around Tallahassee

Ready or not, here we are at the 11th month. Hello, Mr. November. Put on your best clothes, there's no time to waste. It's an arty First Friday weekend.

Enjoy the lights, sounds and cotton-candy smells of the North Florida Fair, which opens Thursday for its 81st year. Catch Comic Con at the Civic Center or an Evening of Dance concert at Florida State.

FSU plays at Pittsburgh at 3:30 p.m. Saturday; FAMU is away against Alabama A&M.

Here's a roundup of entertaining events around Tallahassee, culled from emails, the Council on Culture & Arts online listings and elsewhere.

Fair time: Bright lights, rich history light up 81st Annual North Florida Fair

1. Catch Turnpike Troubadours at Civic Center

With a new album released this summer, American country roots band Turnpike Troubadours will be making a stop at the Tucker Civic Center at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. This show will also include special guests Blackberry Smoke and Jason Boland and the Stragglers. Tickets range from $96-$42; visit ticketmaster.com.

The Troubadours released its sixth studio album, "A Cat in the Rain," on Aug. 25, recorded with Shooter Jennings in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, as well as in Los Angeles.

Hailing from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the gritty Turnpike Troubadours formed in 2005, assembling a lineup that eventually included frontman Evan Felker, lead guitarist Ryan Engleman, fiddle player Kyle Nix, bassist R.C. Edwards, drummer Gabe Pearson, and steel guitar and accordion player Hank Early.

Turnpike Troubadours is set to play with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit for two nights at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Jan. 19-20, 2024.

Their debut album, "Bossier City," was released in 2007, the first of five studio albums the group would release. 2017’s "A Long Way from Your Heart" went to No. 3 on the Billboard Top Country chart. The band took a four-year timeout and began touring again in 2022.

2. Something good: Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind

Mac Daddy Blues Productions presents Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind from 8-11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at BBC @ the Legion, in the Sauls-Bridges American Legion Hall, 229 Lake Ella Drive. Tickets are $30 advance; $35 day of show. Visit bbclegion.com.

Ricci picked up the harmonica as a teenager in a punk rock band and continued when he watched and later was mentored by legendary harmonica player Pat Ramsey in Memphis. Ricci’s latest chapter is the New Orleans band Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind, influenced by the sounds of New Orleans and artists like The Meters and Doctor John. Visit mooncat.org.

3. Talk about FSU Lab's 'Imogen Says Nothing'

Bear witness to backstage chaos in Shakespeare’s playhouse when the School of Theatre at Florida State University presents "Imogen Says Nothing," by Aditi Brennan Kapil at 8 p.m. Nov. 2-3 and 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at The Lab Theatre, 502 S. Copeland St.

Imogen was probably a typo by Shakespeare, a character who never says anything despite being listed as part of the cast of "Much Ado About Nothing." But in this topsy turvy comedy, Imogen is much ado about everything: a bear disguised as a human who transforms the Lord Chamberlain’s Men with her lawbreaking actions, opinionated voice, and fearless wit.

Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children with discounts for seniors, employees and military. Visit tickets.theatre.fsu.edu.

4. Super fans, Comic Con is here

Florida Comic Con, a new pop culture event in Florida, debuts at the Tucker Civic Center starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4-5, for a weekend of celebrities, gaming, and fun. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.com for $25 per day or $40 for the weekend, or at the door the day of the show for $30 per day or $50 for the weekend. Kids 10 and under attend free with adult admission (limit two free kids per paid adult). Tickets can be purchased at the Tucker Civic Center Box Office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit tuckerciviccenter.com.

5. Take a ride on 'Carousel' with Young Actors

Young Actors Theatre will open the first production of its 49th season at 7 p.m. Friday with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s "Carousel," fittingly sponsored by the North Florida Fair. "Carousel" is set in a coastal community with a cast of students ages 9 to 18 performing the iconic songs like "June is Busting Out All Over," "If I Loved You," and the poignant "You'll Never Walk Alone."

“Carousel does not follow a standard musical format,” shares director Elaine Hendriks Smith, of FSU’s School of Theatre. “The characters do not sing in their opening moments. Instead, they exist within the spectacle of the carousel, an exciting technology for people in 1873.”

Shows continue at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and next week at the YAT, 609 Glenview Drive. Visit youngactorstheatre.com. Tickets for "Carousel," running Nov. 3-12, start at $15.

Bonus event: Della Mae brings strings to Opening Nights

Della Mae, a Grammy-nominated all-woman string band founded by lead vocalist/guitarist Celia Woodsmith and 2-time Grand National champion fiddle player Kimber Ludiker, makes an Opening Nights appearance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at Goodwood Museum and Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road. Tickets are $45. Visit openingnights.fsu.edu.

Rounding out the current touring lineup are guitarist Avril Smith, and bassist Vickie Vaughn. Della Mae is one of the most charismatic and engaging roots bands touring today, spreading peace and understanding through music in over 30 countries.Their mission as a band is to showcase top female musicians, and to improve opportunities for women and girls through advocacy, mentorship, programming, and performance.

Bonus event: EG Kight at Blue Tavern

Tommy Hoople's Delta Ringnecks start off Friday happy hour from 5-7 p.m. at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. Then the talented EG Kight brings on her solo show at 8 p.m. Cover is $10. The singer/songwriter/guitar player from Dublin, Georgia, has 25 years as a blues artist that earned her 18 various blues industry award nominations, including Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year. She released her 10th blues album "Sticks & Strings," in September, which debuted at #10 on the Billboard Blues Chart.

It's 1st Saturday 'Swim' with Bluegill Bill at Blue Tavern from 5-7 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by Paddy League & Miss Mango. $10 cover. First Sunday Blues Jam at Blue Tavern cranks up at 3 p.m. Open to all levels. No cover and no charge to participate. Hosted by JC & the Backscratchers. On Tuesday catch Rev. Robert at 5 p.m. and John Ford at 8 p.m. Wednesday happy run 5-7 p.m. with Two Clever, followed at 8 p.m. by Open Mic Night. Happy hour with piano music by Matthew Cravener runs 5-7 p.m. Thursday, followed at 8 p.m. by Free Jazz Five Buck Thursday. Longineu Parsons, Brian Hall, and Michael Bakan hold court. $5 cover.

OTHER EVENTS

926 Bar and Grill: V89’s 36th Birthday Bash: Pool Kids w/ Glazed, Sarah Morrison at 926 Bar, 926 W. Tharpe St., on Sunday, Nov. 5. Doors @ 7:00pm, show @ 7:30pm, $15 advance, $18 day of show.

Artisans in the Garden: 27th annual event featuring 50 artists and arts and crafts, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, Tallahassee Nurseries, 2911 Thomasville Road.

The Bark: The Dolly Rots with a new album "Night Owl$" out Oct. 13, lands at The Bark, 507 All Saints St., Saturday, Nov. 4, with Rath and The Wise Guys and Bursters! Local support from Gangs of Paris and Professional Businessman. Doors at open at 8 p.m., music at 8:30 p.m. $17 advance, $20 day of show.

First Friday in Railroad Square: Hot Tamale will be entertaining at the Mickee Faust Club for First Friday festivities in Railroad Square from 6-9 p.m. on the street in front of Mickee Faust. They’ll be playing R&B tunes from artists like Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, Robert Johnson, etc.  plus folk classics and originals.

Great Oaks Pub at Southwood: Local supergroup, the Three Amigos, featuring Mark Blair, Barry Kay, and Jimbo Smith, returns from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday. The group will be playing the best of blues, rock and soul, featuring three vocalists. Full restaurant and bar, no cover. Call 850-942-453 for reservations.

Havana Quilt Show: The Havana History & Heritage Society will host a presentation on the popular art – and great American craft – of quilting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Shade Tobacco Museum, in the historic Planters Exchange Complex at 204 2nd Street NW, Havana. The presentation will be held in conjunction with Havana Main Street’s annual Quilt Show and Sale event in downtown Havana.

Mickee Faust’s Annual Punk’n Chuck’n – the first Sunday after Halloween! Don't discard your Halloween masterpiece. Chuck it into the streets of Railroad Square at 2 p.m. Nov. 5. BYO soggy punk'n to hurl. Costumes & artistic chuck'n performances are encouraged. Kids and dogs are welcome.

North Florida Fair: Annual fair with rides, food, agriculture and more. Various times, Nov. 2-12, North Florida Fairgrounds, 441 Paul Russell Road. Find specials and tickets at northfloridafair.com.

Title Wave Book Sale: The Friends of the Leon County Public Library is hosting a used book sale from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and Sunday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at LeRoy Collins Leon County Library, 200 W. Park Ave. All funds raised will support Library programs and activities.

Thomasville First Friday: City of Thomasville presents its First Friday Sip & Shop! Explore and indulge in Downtown Thomasville starting at 6 p.m. Friday and wrapping up with a performance from 8-10 p.m. by the Steve Walden Band at The Ritz Amphitheater from 8-10 pm. Walden is a talented singer, writer, producer, and musician with an R&B vibe.

Have an event coming up? Email details to limelight@tallahassee.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Top 5 fun things to do around Tallahassee this weekend